[Simon]

Everytime I tune in to CNN the news seems worse. This morning they're saying 80% of New Orleans is under water now (20% in places), and that the levees are still flooding new water into the city. The mayor of N.O. was on talking about how there are "too many frickin' cooks" right now and things which could help, like sandbagging, aren't getting done.

My father's brother and family lived on a bayou outside N.O. and it's pretty much nothing but water there now.

It looks bad from here. It's not going to be easy for folks in that region. I hope everyone else we know in the area is okay, and will be able to pick up the pieces and go on with the struggle.

Simon